Chapter 4: The New Boss Arrives!

Five days later, after his morning meeting, Shen Jingjue called his secretary, Han Xian, into his office. "What have you found out about Bai Xiaoxiao?" The man stood facing the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the luxurious cityscape of Shengjing. His tall, imposing figure cast a commanding silhouette. "I-I'm sorry, Mr. Shen, there's been no progress." Han Xian nervously wiped sweat from his brow. "And after she left that night, the Young Madam didn't return to the sanatorium where she used to work. I even went to her hometown, Yuncheng, to investigate, but the address given was fake. There isn't a single family named Bai living there." "The address is fake?" Shen Jingjue spun around abruptly, his gaze dark and oppressive. "Yes, I checked with the local police station, and there's no record of such a person." Han Xian had, after all, called Tang Qiao'er 'Young Madam' for three years; he couldn't quite break the habit. Shen Jingjue's mind buzzed. What kind of woman had he married? A female spy? "She left with Tang Yue that night. No leads from investigating Tang Yue either?" "To be honest, Mr. Shen, if Mr. Tang truly intends to keep her hidden away, then we probably won't find anything..." The phrase "keep her hidden away" made Shen Jingjue's handsome brow twitch violently, and a surge of irritation flared in his dark eyes. "Tang Yue, he seems like a man of integrity. How could he resort to such a despicable tactic as poaching?" "Uh... it's not exactly poaching, is it? By all accounts, it should be called taking over..." Shen Jingjue shot a sharp, piercing glance at Han Xian, who gasped, unable to catch his breath, and then coughed. The image of Tang Yue protecting Bai Xiaoxiao that night was vivid in his mind, the deep and intense affection in the man's eyes. For some reason, Shen Jingjue felt a dull ache in his chest. How could his dull wife possess such charm that even Tang Yue, known in the elite circles as the emotionless, desireless "Pineapple Head," had become her protector, a man at her feet? —"Jingjue, can we... not divorce?" —"Because... I love you!" "Liar!" Shen Jingjue narrowed his eyes, a chilling aura emanating from him. The more he thought, the angrier he got; the angrier he got, the more he thought! Just then, his phone vibrated on the desk. Shen Jingjue collected his thoughts. Seeing it was Jin Enrou calling, he quickly answered. "Rou'er, what's wrong?" "Brother Jingjue, I'm in the lobby of Shen Group. Can you come down and get me? I brought you some pastries I made myself, and I want you to try them first." Jin Enrou's voice came through the phone, syrupy sweet, making Han Xian, standing nearby, feel a chill down his spine. "You're at the group building now?" Shen Jingjue's brows furrowed. "Yes, Brother Jingjue, what's wrong? Don't you want to see Rou'er?" Jin Enrou asked coyly. "No, I'll have Han Xian bring you up." After hanging up, Shen Jingjue's expression darkened a few shades. He and Bai Xiaoxiao hadn't finalized their divorce yet, and the news of their divorce hadn't been publicly announced. For Jin Enrou to brazenly come to the group to find him now would cause a lot of trouble. He wasn't afraid of anything, but mainly... Just then, his phone vibrated again. Shen Jingjue looked down at the screen, and his heart suddenly tightened. "Grandpa." "You pig-headed fool! Everything I told you went in one ear and out the other?! I told you that since you married Xiaoxiao, you were not to have any more dealings with the Jin family girl! Not only are you untrustworthy, but you brought her to the group. It's fine if you debase yourself, but where does that leave Xiaoxiao's reputation?! Get over here!" ... In the reception room, the atmosphere was suffocatingly low. Shen Nanhai, leaning on his cane, sat down with the support of his personal secretary and Shen Guangjing, his face as black as ink. Shen Jingjue stood ramrod straight before the elders. Jin Enrou was blocked at the door; in the old man's words, a woman like a discarded concubine was not worthy of seeing his esteemed presence. "Speak! What's going on with that woman?!" Shen Nanhai slammed his cane heavily on the floor. "Dad, please calm down first..." Shen Guangjing quickly patted the old man's back, glaring at Shen Jingjue with a look of disappointment. "Grandpa, the three-year term is up." Shen Jingjue's voice was hoarse as he spoke each word distinctly, "You promised me that I would only marry Bai Xiaoxiao for three years, and after the three years were up, whether to continue or divorce would be up to me." Shen Nanhai's face turned pale, as if struck by lightning. For three years, with the company of that good child, Bai Xiaoxiao, he had lived happily every day. A thousand-plus days had passed in the blink of an eye, and he hadn't even realized the term was up! "Now, I choose to end this marriage and be with the person I truly love. You should have no objection. Bai Xiaoxiao has also signed the divorce agreement and will go with me to complete the procedures on a chosen date." Shen Jingjue parted his thin lips, his tone indifferent and heartless. "What?! Already divorced?!" Shen Nanhai was furious, and as he stood up, his vision went black, and he almost fell. Shen Jingjue rushed forward to support his grandfather but was angrily pushed away by the old man. "Dad! They haven't gotten the divorce certificate yet, they've only signed the agreement. You have a history of stroke, you absolutely cannot get agitated!" Shen Guangjing, fearing a relapse of the old man's chronic illness, quickly tried to comfort him. "What a sin! What a sin! My daughter-in-law wasn't satisfactory, why can't my granddaughter-in-law be someone I like either? Why?!" Shen Jingjue stood frozen, unsure whether to extend or withdraw his hand, and Shen Guangjing also found himself caught in the crossfire. "I want Xiaoxiao! Go find my Xiaoxiao and bring her back! Without Xiaoxiao, I can't sleep peacefully or eat. I don't want anyone else, I only want Xiaoxiao to be our Shen family's granddaughter-in-law!" Shen Nanhai, growing more childlike with age, began to throw a tantrum. "Jingjue, quickly call Xiaoxiao and bring her to see Grandpa!" Shen Guangjing urged anxiously. "Grandpa, this is meaningless. Even if I call her back to accompany you now, our marriage has reached its end, and there's no possibility of continuing." Shen Jingjue thought that a short, sharp pain was better than a prolonged one. Rather than dragging it out, it was better to cut off the hope directly; with time, it would fade. "Ahhh!" Shen Nanhai began to tremble all over, falling straight backward. This startled both father and son, Shen, who frantically called doctors and searched for medicine, causing a chaotic scene. Shen Jingjue had no choice but to grit his teeth and call Bai Xiaoxiao. The result. "The number you have dialed is not in service." Not only had Bai Xiaoxiao disappeared, but her phone number had also been canceled?! "Damn it!" Shen Jingjue's eyes turned red with anger, and he clenched his fists tightly. * Meanwhile, in front of the KSWORLD Hotel. All the senior executives were waiting outside to welcome the newly appointed top leader. "I heard the general manager arriving today is a young woman!" "Hmph, I don't believe it. Four male managers before her couldn't turn things around; they either transferred or resigned. Can this young girl really change the tide? What a joke!" "I heard she's Chairman Tang's biological daughter..." "Chairman Tang has many wives and concubines. This is probably an unloved illegitimate daughter, right? If she were truly a cherished daughter, why would she be sent to clean up this mess?" A few snickers broke out among the crowd. "They're here! The new boss is here!" A top-of-the-line Rolls-Royce smoothly pulled up in front of the main entrance, followed by several high-end Maybachs, an impressive display of prestige. Everyone saw the license plate 9999 and instantly fell silent, holding their breath. The car door opened, and the first thing that came into view were black, red-soled, imperious high heels. The next second, a beautiful woman with a graceful figure, cascading black hair, and a stunningly bright complexion stepped elegantly out of the car. Her eyes were sharp, like an autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves, radiating an intimidating aura that made people dare not look directly at her. "Good day, everyone." Tang Qiao'er parted her rosy lips, her smile breathtakingly beautiful. "I am your new general manager, but I am not an illegitimate daughter. I'm sorry to disappoint you." At her words, the few people who had been gossiping earlier broke out in a cold sweat. A few minutes earlier, in the car. Tang Qiao'er picked up her laptop and directly hacked into the two surveillance cameras at the hotel entrance.